With green season on the doorstep of Zambia’s tourism season, camps and lodges are gearing up to slow down over the wetter festive season. While the abundance of water may pose challenges for the tourism industry’s summer season, the significance of Zambia’s water resources far outweighs any potential disadvantage for the country.
Zambia relies on hydroelectric power for a large percentage of its electricity needs. Major hydropower stations such as the Kariba Dam and Kafue Gorge rely on the flow of water in rivers to generate energy.
The country’s rich biodiversity is closely tied to its water resources. Wetlands, rivers, lakes and floodplains provide habitat for a wide variety of wildlife, including fish, birds and mammals. Notable areas like the Zambezi River, Lake Tanganyika and Lake Kariba are vital ecosystems for both local wildlife and the country’s tourism industry.
Water is also essential for maintaining the delicate balance of Zambia’s ecosystems, which support agriculture, fisheries, tourism and other industries.
Zambia is known for its natural beauty, including iconic sites such as the Victoria Falls, the world’s largest and most famous waterfall. The flow of the Zambezi River is integral to this landmark’s grandeur and contributes significantly to Zambia’s tourism revenue. Water-based tourism activities like houseboating, canoeing safaris, scenic boat rides, fishing and whitewater rafting are a key part of the economy, and maintaining water availability is vital for sustaining these industries.

Ultimate Routes’ Picks: 5 Must-Do Water Activities in Zambia
After a lengthy exploration of Zambia’s many national parks we managed to get onto, into and beside breathtaking bodies of water throughout our 60-day recce trip of the country. It’s easy to craft your itinerary around water-based activities in Zambia, just be sure to plan
around the seasons so that you don’t get caught knee-deep in the floods.

1. Whitewater rafting on the Zambezi
What a thrilling adventure from the start! We set off towards the Boiling Pot, armed with paddles and life jackets (definitely wear strops or trainers!), ready to tackle the rapids and clamber into the raft as it floated on the turbulent waters.
We spent a day white-water rafting with SAFPAR (Safari Par Excellence), widely regarded as the best one-day rafting operator in the world. We felt reassured knowing that, in addition to their excellent rescue and rafting credentials, SAFPAR is the only company on the Zambezi with a 100% guide certification from the International Rafting Federation.
From August to January, the Zambezi is considered ‘low water,’ and the adventure takes you through Rapids #1 to #21, with one or two being skipped due to their high difficulty and danger level. Occasionally, you might spot an empty raft or an adventurous guide taking on the rapids solo in a 1-person whitewater kayak!
This experience is exhilarating, fun, scenic and terrifying all at once—there’s a reason the minimum age for the activity is 15! We loved that the rafts were limited to four paddlers plus one (or two) guides. Our guide demonstrated excellent control of the raft, even through the most challenging rapids. My personal highlight was swimming through a rapid or two and floating a little way down the mighty Zambezi—an incredibly freeing and humbling experience.

2. Zambezi River Boat Cruises
The Zambezi River is home to numerous camps and lodges along its banks, stretching from its source all the way to its exit into Cahora Bassa Lake in Mozambique. Guests can enjoy a variety of river cruises, offering fantastic opportunities for game viewing, birdwatching and
sightseeing along the scenic shoreline. Local daily life can also be observed from the water, with activities such as fishing, washing and playing taking place along the river’s edge.
One of our highlights included an unforgettable guided boat cruise with Zambezi Dusk, where we witnessed a herd of elephants swimming across the river at sunset. Another memorable experience was a fully catered cruise from Vic Falls Waterfront Lodge, featuring superb birding (including a lifer for us—the African finfoot!) and, of course, an open bar.
Lastly, a river cruise from Mvuu Lodge offered us the chance to moor on a bank in Lower Zambezi National Park to witness incredible game viewing, including a majestic tusker standing on his hind legs against a massive ana tree.

3. Swim in the Lufila River in North Luangwa
For the adventurous self-driver, the Amatololo Experience offers a multiday 4×4 track along the eastern and northern perimeter of North Luangwa National Park.
We immersed ourselves in the wilderness magic of this lesser-known route, complete with epic bush camps, riverside barbeques and unexpected sightings of wild dogs and lion. We encountered the thrill of skittish elephants and the challenge of bundu bashing, rock road building and combatting the persistent tsetse flies!
Finally, we reached the northernmost campsite! The escarpment drive leading there is not for the faint-hearted but the destination—Lufila Falls Camp—is well worth it. This intimate camp, limited to just two vehicles, is perched on the slope of a steep riverbed, overlooking the Lufila River and its rapids. After the intense heat and deep-concentration driving, many sessions of welcome paddles and splashes in the river provided much-needed relief for the whole group, both young and old!

4. Wild Waterfalls of Zambia
For the adventurous self-drive traveller who thrives on unpredictability, exploring hidden gems and experiencing the awe-inspiring power of close-up waterfalls, Zambia is an absolute must on your bucket list!
We only had the chance to visit a handful of the incredible destinations in the northern regions of Zambia yet we were absolutely blown away. The abundance of water, even in a record dry year, is truly remarkable! Many travellers aim to visit as many as possible and, if time allows in your itinerary, we highly recommend spending a night or two between destinations to experience these water wonders for yourself.

5. Tiger Fishing

For avid anglers or first-timers, dropping your line in Zambia can be an exhilarating and rewarding adventure, offering a combination of challenging fishing, beautiful landscapes and abundant wildlife.
Tiger fishing in Zambia offers an opportunity to fish in some of the most pristine, untouched natural environments in Africa. The rivers and lakes are surrounded by stunning landscapes, including dense forests, wildlife-rich floodplains and dramatic escarpments. While fishing, anglers often get a chance to spot wild animals and special bird species along the riverbanks.
We’d also recommend fishing in Zambia as most find them to be less commercial, offering an authentic and peaceful experience for those looking to escape the crowds.
We’ve discovered a few magical spots where guests can enjoy the best of all the above – fun and adventure for the whole family, even if some are not fishing enthusiasts but find themselves travelling alongside one!
NB Please check the guidelines for responsible catch-and-release fishing to ensure stocks are not depleted and fish experience as little stress as possible. Remember, the season is closed between December and March every year for breeding.

Zambia is not just another wilderness destination for a family holiday, not only a place you have great chances of seeing leopard and wild dog, not only a pristine and special birding destination but a DIVERSE destination rich in resources or water, wildlife, people, food,
agriculture and culture! There is no doubt it’s becoming a higher priority on self-drivers’ bucket lists!

Ready to experience the wild and water wonders of Zambia on your own terms?
Contact Ultimate Routes to tailor your self-drive journey with expert knowledge and personal touches for the ultimate Zambian escape.